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CSS font-size and <table> tag

I'm not too clear on the rules of CSS inheritance.

I want to change the font-size using CSS for all displayed text inside in a large, complex <table>. I know that if I put my class definition in every single <td> inside this table than I will get the desired effect. But if I put the same class definition inside the <table> tag, then it doesn't work - the displayed text size is unaffected.

So my question is - is there a way to achieve this effect using CSS without having to put my class definition inside every single <td> element? Is this solution cross-browser compatible?

More good advice. Thanks Creole. Your answer confirms to me that I have to use class in every <td> in order to be sure, to be sure. Except...

Regarding your suggestion of a 'master' style - I normally put all my CSS definitions in the <style> tag inside the <head> tag. Is it acceptable to redefine my 'master' <td> tag just before a large complex table containing lots of <td> tags, and then change it back to something else after the closing </table> tag? Is this bad practice and/or not cross-browser compatible - or perhaps it just doesn't work?